Duane Regis Tanking, 66, of Seneca, Kansas passed away peacefully on November 25, 2025.

Duane was born on October 4, 1959, in Axtell, Kansas the son of Regis & Lucille (Wessel) Tanking. He grew up in Seneca, graduating from Nemaha Valley High School in 1978. After high school he attended Beloit Vo-Tech for a short time in the Farm Mechanics department. He then followed his passion and began farming with his dad.  Farming times were difficult in the 80’s and so Duane went to work at Mac Equipment. He eventually also worked at Stollers Interiors and Mid Am Creamery. Prior to retirement in 2021, Duane worked in the maintenance department at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital for 32 years.

On June 6, 1981, Duane married his high school sweetheart, Jane Fangman at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. They celebrated 44 happy years of marriage. The couple created many lifelong friends over the years from living in Woodlawn, Sabetha, and Seneca. In 1988, they purchased his grandparents Alfred & Kate Tanking’s farm east of Seneca. Duane and Jane farmed and raised their family here. The couple lived there until 2019 when their son, Jeff and his family, moved to the farm and they moved to Seneca.

Duane was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. He was a former member of the Nemaha County Fair Board and the Knights of Columbus Council. In addition was a volunteer EMT for over 20 years.

Throughout his whole life, Duane was known as a hard working and dependable man. He enjoyed many things in life like playing cards, doing puzzles, camping, watching the Royals, Chiefs, & Jayhawks, and attending his grandkids’ events.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by wife and his three children: Eric (Lindsey) Tanking of Overland Park, Katie (Craig) Heiman of Baileyville, and Jeff (Abby) Tanking of Seneca.  Duane was also a loving grandfather to 8 grandchildren: Miles & Sadie Tanking, Addison, Kayson, & Connor Heiman, and Mark, Kane, & Lucy Tanking. In addition, he is survived by his siblings: Karen Tanking of Seneca, Glen Tanking of Cathedral City, CA, and Lori Tanking of Seneca.

A rosary will be prayed on Friday, November 28, 2025, at 7:00 pm at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, November 29th at 10:30 am at Saint’s Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca with burial following in the church cemetery in Seneca.

Memorials may be given in Duane’s memory for Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery or the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, and sent in care of the family.